Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is among the 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now. Morgan Stanley Maintains an Equal Rating on Entergy Corporation (ETR) Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is among the Best Utility Stocks. On February 20, 2026, Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro increased Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR)'s price objective to $98 from $91 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. The firm upgraded its price estimates for North American Regulated and Diversified Utilities and IPPs. M ...

Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE) is among the 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now. Morgan Stanley Retains an Equal Rating on Ameren Corporation (AEE) Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE) is among the Best Utility Stocks. On February 20, 2026, Morgan Stanley elevated Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE)'s price objective to $116 from $108 while retaining an Equal Weight rating. The firm raised its price projections for North American Regulated and Diversified Utilities and IPPs. Morgan Stanley said that util ...

Core Insights - NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) is recognized as one of the 7 Best Non-REIT Dividend Stocks to Invest in [1] - Barclays has raised its price target for NWE to $62 from $61, maintaining an Overweight rating [3] Financial Performance - NorthWestern reported GAAP earnings of $0.62 per share and adjusted EPS of $0.79, an increase from $0.65 a year earlier [4] - Utility margins improved at a double-digit rate compared to the previous year [4] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance of $3.53 to $3.65 per share and a long-term growth target of 4% to 6% [4] Strategic Developments - NorthWestern is pursuing a significant all-stock merger with Black Hills Corporation, which is expected to enhance its market presence and scale [5] - The company is investing heavily with a $2.7 billion capital plan aimed at expanding its rate base over time [4]

Core Insights - The article discusses the best non-REIT dividend stocks to invest in, highlighting the importance of dividends across various sectors beyond real estate investment trusts (REITs) [1][3] Dividend Market Overview - REITs have shown resilience in 2025, with aggregate funds from operations rising by 6.2%, net operating income increasing by 4.7%, and total dividends paid climbing by 6.3% compared to the same period in 2024, indicating strong fundamentals and disciplined capital access [2] - There is a significant demand for dividend-paying stocks, with over $1 trillion in funds and ETFs globally focusing on dividends, reflecting investors' desire for consistent and reliable income streams [3] Methodology for Stock Selection - The article identifies dividend-paying stocks outside of REITs with a yield above 3% as of January 31, and selects those with the highest number of hedge fund investors at the end of Q3 2025 [6] Company Highlights - **Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX)**: - Dividend yield of 4.31% with 14 hedge fund holders; focuses on software for information management, heavily reliant on recurring revenue [9] - Analyst Stephanie Price from CIBC cut the price target to $37 from $40, maintaining a Neutral rating due to weaker-than-expected Q2 guidance [10] - The company plans to divest non-core business units, potentially reducing revenue by up to 20% to focus on AI-related content [12] - **NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NWE)**: - Dividend yield of 3.89% with 24 hedge fund holders; operates as a regulated utility providing electricity and natural gas [13] - Barclays raised its price target to $62 from $61, maintaining an Overweight rating following a solid Q3 performance with GAAP earnings of $0.62 per share [14][15] - The company is pursuing a strategic all-stock merger with Black Hills Corporation, expected to enhance its market presence [16]

Core Insights - PG&E Corporation (PCG) has a market capitalization of $34.5 billion and provides electricity and natural gas services across northern and central California, utilizing a diverse energy mix [1] - Analysts predict an adjusted EPS of $0.38 for fiscal Q4 2025, reflecting a 22.6% increase from $0.31 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the expected adjusted EPS is $1.50, which is a 10.3% increase from $1.36 in fiscal 2024 [3] Financial Performance - PCG stock has declined by 6.6% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.1% gain and the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF's 12.3% increase [4] - Despite reporting a better-than-expected Q3 2025 adjusted EPS of $0.50, PG&E shares fell by 1.7% due to revenue of $6.25 billion missing market forecasts and increased wildfire-related claims [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus rating for PCG stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 12 out of 17 analysts, while 5 analysts have a "Hold" rating [6] - The average analyst price target for PG&E is $21.32, indicating a potential upside of 34.6% from current levels [6]

Company Overview - CMS Energy Corporation has a market cap of $21.3 billion and operates through Electric Utility, Gas Utility, and NorthStar Clean Energy segments, providing services to approximately 1.9 million electric and 1.8 million gas customers in Michigan [1] Financial Performance - Analysts forecast CMS to report an adjusted EPS of $0.96 for fiscal Q4 2025, representing a 10.3% increase from $0.87 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the expected adjusted EPS is $3.59, which is a 7.5% rise from $3.34 in fiscal 2024 [3] - CMS Energy reported a stronger-than-expected Q3 2025 adjusted EPS of $0.93 and revenue of $2.02 billion, leading to an increase in its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $3.56 - $3.60 and initiating 2026 guidance at $3.80 - $3.87 [5] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, CMS shares have returned 5.6%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.7% increase and the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF's 11.9% gain [4] - The consensus view among analysts is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating; eight out of 16 analysts recommend "Strong Buy" while the other eight suggest "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for CMS Energy is $79.15, indicating a potential upside of 13.1% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - Benjamin Edwards Inc. significantly increased its stake in Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) by 1,316.2% in Q3, acquiring 42,526 additional shares, bringing its total holdings to 45,757 shares valued at $3.82 million [2][3]. Institutional Holdings - Other institutional investors also increased their stakes in PEG during Q3, with HB Wealth Management LLC growing its holdings by 13.9% to 19,623 shares valued at $1.64 million after acquiring 2,401 shares [3]. - KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS increased its stake by 8.2%, owning 339,909 shares worth $28.37 million after acquiring 25,700 shares [3]. - Overall, 73.34% of PEG's stock is owned by hedge funds and institutional investors [3]. Stock Performance - PEG shares opened at $78.67, with a market capitalization of $39.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.91, and a PEG ratio of 2.21 [4]. - The stock has a twelve-month low of $74.67 and a high of $91.25, with a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.93 [4]. Financial Results - PEG reported Q3 earnings of $1.13 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations of $1.02 by $0.11, with a net margin of 17.77% and a return on equity of 12.62% [5]. - The company achieved revenue of $3.23 billion for the quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.80 billion, marking a year-over-year revenue increase of 22.1% [5]. Dividend Information - PEG announced a quarterly dividend of $0.63, representing an annualized dividend of $2.52 and a yield of 3.2%, with a payout ratio of 60.58% [6]. Insider Transactions - SVP Richard T. Thigpen sold 4,920 shares at an average price of $82.33, totaling approximately $405,063.60, which decreased his ownership by 15.84% [7]. Analyst Ratings - TD Cowen raised its price target for PEG from $93.00 to $96.00, maintaining a "buy" rating, while JPMorgan Chase lowered its target from $96.00 to $88.00 with an "overweight" rating [9]. - The consensus rating for PEG is "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $91.35, with ten analysts rating it as a buy and four as hold [9]. Company Overview - Public Service Enterprise Group is a diversified energy company primarily operating in New Jersey, focusing on regulated utility services and energy generation [10]. - Its regulated utility arm, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), manages electric and gas networks, customer connections, and system reliability [11].

Core Insights - Kintayl Capital has initiated a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group, acquiring 129,994 shares valued at approximately $7.6 million, representing 4.7% of the fund's reportable U.S. equity assets [2][7] - NorthWestern Energy Group's stock has increased by 22% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500, which rose nearly 13% during the same period [3][10] Company Overview - NorthWestern Energy Group operates as a regulated utility, providing electricity and natural gas services across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park [6][9] - The company has a market capitalization of $4 billion, with a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $1.6 billion and a net income of $217 million [4][10] Financial Performance - NorthWestern reported a GAAP EPS of $0.62 and an adjusted EPS of $0.79 for the third quarter, compared to $0.65 in the previous year, with utility margin increasing by double digits year over year [10] - The company has reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance of $3.53 to $3.65 per share, targeting a long-term EPS growth of 4% to 6% [10] Strategic Developments - NorthWestern is pursuing a $2.7 billion capital investment plan aimed at expanding its rate base and is navigating a pending all-stock merger with Black Hills Corporation, expected to close next year [10][11] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.66, reflecting the stability that investors typically seek in utility stocks [10][11]

Core Insights - Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) is recognized as one of the 15 overlooked dividend stocks to consider for investment [1] - Mizuho has increased its price target for Avista from $39 to $42, maintaining a Neutral rating after the company's strong Q3 performance [2] - The company reported Q3 2025 revenues of $403 million, a 2.35% increase year-over-year, although it fell short of analysts' expectations by $14.7 million [3] Financial Performance - Q3 2025 revenues reached $403 million, reflecting a 2.35% increase compared to the same quarter last year [3] - The company had $210 million in liquidity available under its committed line of credit and $43 million under its letter of credit facility as of September 30, 2025 [3] - Avista plans to issue approximately $120 million in long-term debt and up to $80 million in common stock in 2026 [3] Capital Expenditures and Future Plans - CFO Kevin Christie reported $363 million in capital expenditures for the first three quarters of 2025, with total spending expected to reach $525 million for the year [4] - Potential capital opportunities could amount to $500 million between 2026 and 2029, including a request for proposals (RFP) and the addition of a large customer [4] Company Overview - Avista Corporation provides electricity and natural gas services, generating, transmitting, and distributing energy to customers across the Pacific Northwest [5]

Core Insights - The article discusses overlooked dividend-paying stocks that present strong investment opportunities, emphasizing the historical performance of dividends in generating total returns across various market conditions [1][4]. Dividend Performance - Dividend-paying stocks have historically contributed nearly half (49.3%) of the broader market's total return since 1871, with the remainder coming from price appreciation [4]. - From May 1971 to February 2025, the S&P 500 delivered an average annual return of 118.6%, while reinvested dividends provided a return of 195.3%, highlighting the power of compounding [2]. Investment Methodology - The selection process focused on dividend-paying companies with a market capitalization above $2 billion that have raised their dividends for at least ten consecutive years, identifying firms with steady dividend policies and consistent shareholder returns [6]. Company Highlights - **California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenue of $311.2 million, a 4% year-over-year increase, but fell short of analyst projections by over $10 million [11]. - Announced its 323rd consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, extending a 58-year streak of annual dividend increases, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% over the past five years [12]. - Management indicated potential for a nearly 12% annualized growth in the regulated rate base if the proposed 2024 GRC and infrastructure improvement plan is approved [13]. - **Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenues of $403 million, a 2.35% increase from the previous year, but missed analyst expectations by $14.7 million [15]. - Plans to issue approximately $120 million in long-term debt and up to $80 million in common stock in 2026 [15]. - CFO highlighted $363 million in capital expenditures for the first three quarters of the year, with total spending expected to reach $525 million for 2025 [16]. - **Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO)**: - Reported Q3 2025 total revenue of $147.1 million, an 8% increase, with revenue before reimbursements rising 10% to $137.1 million [21]. - Strong performance driven by growth in dispute-related work across various sectors, including energy and life sciences [20]. - The company is positioned to leverage opportunities from artificial intelligence while managing risks associated with technological changes [19].